Apple Aperture - 1.0 Getting Started

Aperture

Getting Started

Apple Computer, Inc.

The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Aperture software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. Because Apple frequently releases new versions and updates to its system software, applications, and Internet sites, images shown in this book may be slightly different from what you see on your screen.

The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the “keyboard” Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws.

Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Cinema Display, ColorSync, FireWire, iPhoto, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Aperture and Finder are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

.Mac is a service mark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Adobe and Photoshop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products.

Chapter 1 9 An Overview of Aperture

Using Aperture in Your Workflow

Elements Used in Aperture

Chapter 2 21 Setting Up an Aperture System

Setting Up a Basic System

Setting Up Your System with Two Displays

Using Additional Hard Disk Storage and FireWire Drives

Chapter 3 29 Learning About the Aperture Interface

Basics of Working in Aperture

The Aperture Main Window

Additional Parts of the Aperture Interface

Configuring Your Workspace

Working Efficiently

Chapter 4 49 Working with Projects

Controls in the Projects Panel

Creating and Naming Projects

Opening and Closing Projects

Creating and Showing Favorite Projects

Deleting Images from Projects and Albums

Deleting Items from the Projects Panel

Chapter 5 55 Importing Images

An Overview of Importing

File Formats You Can Import into Your Library

Importing from Your Digital Camera or Card Reader

Importing Image Files Stored on Your Computer

Dragging Image Files from the Finder into a Project

Importing Folders of Images from the Finder Importing Your iPhoto Library

65 67

Transferring Projects from Another Aperture System

Making an Immediate Backup

Chapter 6 69 Working with Images in the Browser

An Overview of the Browser

Viewing Images in the Browser

Navigating Through and Selecting Images

Rearranging Images in the Browser

Rotating Images

Displaying Specific Metadata with Your Images

Creating Versions of an Image

Copying Images and Moving Images to Different Locations

Working with Referenced Images

Chapter 7 83 Displaying Images in the Viewer

An Overview of the Viewer

Adjusting the Background of the Viewer

Choosing the Number of Images Displayed in the Viewer

Comparing Images

Viewing Images with the Loupe

Viewing Images at Full Resolution

Viewing Images on Multiple Displays

Displaying Metadata Associated with Images

Chapter 8 93 Viewing Images in Full Screen Mode

An Overview of Full Screen Mode

Entering and Exiting Full Screen Mode

Using the Filmstrip in Full Screen Mode

Working with the Toolbar in Full Screen Mode

10 2

Using HUDs in Full Screen Mode

10 4

Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Full Screen Mode

Chapter 9 105 Stacking Images and Making Picks

10 5

An Overview of Stacks

10 6

Creating Stacks Automatically

10 7

Creating Stacks Manually

10 8

Working with Stacks

111

Keyboard Shortcuts for Working with Stacks

Contents

Chapter 10 113 Rating Images

113

An Overview of the Rating System

11 4

Rating Images

11 5

Sorting Images by Rating

117

Comparing and Rating Images

11 9

Keyboard Shortcuts for Rating Images

12 0

Keyboard Shortcuts for Displaying Images with Specific Ratings

Chapter 11 121 Applying Keywords to Images

121

An Overview of Keywords

12 2

Applying Keywords Using the Keywords HUD

12 9

Applying Keywords Using Keyword Controls and Keyword Presets

13 4

Applying Keywords Using the Lift & Stamp HUD

13 6

Viewing Keywords Applied to Images

13 8

Removing Keywords from an Image

Chapter 12 139 Searching for and Displaying Images

13 9

An Overview of the Query HUD

141

Searching by Image Name, Caption, or Other Text

14 2

Searching by Rating

14 3

Searching by Keyword

14 4

Searching by Date

14 6

Searching by IPTC Information

14 7

Searching by EXIF Information

14 8

Searching by File Status

14 9

Searching by a Combination of Criteria

15 0

Saving Your Search Results

Chapter 13 151 Grouping Images with Smart Albums

151

An Overview of Smart Albums

15 2

Collecting Images in a New Smart Album

15 4

Revising the Contents of a Smart Album

15 4

Deleting a Smart Album

Chapter 14 155 An Overview of Image Adjustments

15 5

An Overview of Adjustments in Aperture

15 6

Displaying the Adjustment Controls

Contents

Chapter 15 159 Creating Slideshow Presentations

15 9

An Overview of Slideshows

160

Creating a Slideshow Using Presets

161

Controlling a Slideshow

161

Changing a Slideshow’s Images

Chapter 16 163 Using the Light Table

163

An Overview of the Light Table

164

Creating a Light Table Album and Adding Images to It

165

Adding Images to the Light Table

166

Moving and Resizing Images in the Light Table

167

Aligning and Arranging Images in the Light Table

169

Adjusting the Light Table View

17 0

Printing a Light Table Arrangement

Chapter 17 171 Printing Your Images

171

Settings in the Print Dialog

17 3

Printing Single Images

17 3

Printing a Series of Images

174

Printing a Contact Sheet or Series of Contact Sheets

17 5

Printing a Book

17 5

Creating a PDF File of a Book

Chapter 18 177 Exporting Images

17 7

An Overview of Exporting Your Images

17 8

Exporting Copies of Digital Master Files

17 9

Exporting Image Versions

18 0

About Export Presets

18 2

Adding a Watermark to Exported Images

Chapter 19 183 Creating Web Journals and Web Galleries

An Overview of Web Galleries and Web Journals

183 18 4

Creating and Working with Web Galleries

18 6

Creating and Working with Web Journals

18 8

Viewing and Navigating Your Webpages

18 9

Changing the Appearance of Your Webpages

191 Posting Your Webpages to the Web

Contents

Chapter 20 193 Creating Books

19 3 An Overview of the Book Creation Process 19 4 Creating a Book Album 19 5 Controls in the Book Layout Editor 19 8 Placing Images in a Book 19 8 Adding Pages to a Book 19 8 Removing Pages from a Book 19 9 Resizing and Aligning Images on a Page

19 9 Adding Text to Pages 200 Changing the Theme 200 Ordering a Printed Book

Chapter 21 201 Backing Up Your Images

201 An Overview of Backing Up Your Files 203 Controls in the Vaults Panel 204 Creating a Vault 205 Updating Vaults 206 Removing a Hard Drive from Your System 206 Deleting a Vault Permanently 207 Restoring Your Aperture System

Appendix 209 Credits

Index 211

Contents 7

1 An Overview of Aperture

Aperture is a powerful and easy-to-use digital image management system that can track thousands of digital images and provides professional-quality tools for working with your photos.

Aperture is a nondestructive image processing and database application that lets you efficiently acquire digital images, perform photo edits, adjust and retouch images, publish images on the web or in print, export images, and back up your images for safekeeping.

Before starting work, you need to understand how Aperture is used in your workflow. You’ll also need to find out about the basic elements used as you work with your images in Aperture.

Using Aperture in Your Workflow

The following illustration shows the basic workflow steps you generally follow when using Aperture. Keep in mind that workflows can vary, either from person to person or from project to project. As you work in Aperture, you may not always proceed in strict linear order, and you may choose to overlap some steps.

Aperture Workflow

Acquire Images

Import from

card/camera

Import from hard disk or

media

Sort

• Rate

• Apply keywords

• Compare

• Stack

Import from

iPhoto

Create Projects

Before or during import

Photo Edit

• Using Query HUD

• Using Smart Albums

Apply Adjustments

• Exposure

• Levels

• White balance

Import folders

(maintaining

structure)

Group

Drag from

Finder

Export

10 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture

Distribute

Create

slideshow

Back Up

• Set up vault

• Back up to vault

Publish

webpages

books

Elements in Aperture That Correspond to Workflow

Import images using the

Import panel.

Create projects in the

Projects panel.

Photo edit using the

Viewer...

...and the Browser.

Apply adjustments using the Adjustments Inspector.

As you photo edit, you can view information about an image using the Metadata Inspector.

Use the Vaults panel for backing up your images.

Step 1: Set up your Aperture system

For this beginning stage, you set up your Aperture system by connecting the hardware you need. For most users, it’s fairly straightforward: simply connect your camera or card reader to a FireWire or USB port on your computer, then turn on your computer and open Aperture.

Step 2: Acquire images and create projects

Once you’ve set up your Aperture system, you need to import your images into Aperture. Acquiring, or importing, images is the process of getting the images from your camera, a card reader, external storage media (such as a CD, DVD, or external hard disk drive), or folders on your computer into Aperture. You can choose to acquire many images, such as all the ones on a card, or selected images only. Before or during the import process, you have the option to create a new project to store your images. You can also create projects after importing, or at any stage in the process.

You can also import all or just a portion of your iPhoto Library. When you import your iPhoto Library, Aperture maintains the structure as well as all adjustments and information, also known as metadata, applied to the images.

Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture 11

Step 3: Photo edit

For this stage, you’ll sort through your images and choose which images you want to work with and further adjust. You can add keywords, captions, or other text to your images to help you sort and organize them, as well as apply ratings and stack related images together.

You can also group images to further organize them. You can find images using the Query HUD (heads-up display), a floating panel with search options. You can also create containers, such as folders and albums, within projects to further manage your images. Aperture also uses Smart Albums, which are albums that can be dynamically generated and updated based on specific search criteria you specify in the Query HUD. This can save you time and effort finding just the right images.

Step 4: Apply adjustments

With Aperture, you can make adjustments to images, including adjusting exposure, levels, and white balance and eliminating red-eye. You can also crop, rotate, and resize images. If you want to make adjustments that involve compositing, you can easily work with your images in another application, known as an external editor, such as Adobe Photoshop; adjusted images automatically appear in Aperture when the image is saved. You can apply different adjustments to multiple versions of the same image.

Step 5: Distribute your images

Aperture provides several options for distributing your images. You can print images directly to a printer, export images for delivery to a professional photo lab, or create a book of images for printing using the printing service supplied by your .Mac account. Aperture also includes tools that allow you to publish photos on the web and create online journals without having to know any HTML. You can also use slideshows to present work to clients or provide a background of images and music during an event.

Step 6: Back up your images

You can make a backup copy of your Aperture Library and store it in one or more vaults located on external hard disk drives—usually FireWire drives. The Library includes your projects, digital master files, and any versions you’ve created.

12 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture

Elements Used in Aperture

In Aperture, you use projects, albums, and folders to organize your images as you work. Other important elements are the Library, used to manage your files, and the vault for storing backup copies of your Library.

Â Digital master files: The original image files imported from your camera, memory

card, computer, or external storage media. The digital master files are never changed, so that the original image is preserved and can be used again.

Â Versions: These are files used to display the master files, as well as store any changes

you’ve made to images (such as image adjustments or changes to metadata).

Â Projects: Container files used to hold digital master files, versions, and albums. When

project files are moved, the contents are moved with them.

Â Albums: Used to organize versions. You can create albums within projects or outside

of them. Types of albums include Smart Albums, Light Table albums, web gallery albums, web journal albums, and book albums.

Â Folders: Used to organize projects and albums within projects.

Â Library: A database that manages your files from import to image adjustments and

final distribution. Once you import images, the Library records and tracks your digital master files and corresponding versions. The Library also tracks projects and albums you create to organize your images.

Â Managed and referenced images: Master files stored in the Aperture Library are

called managed images because Aperture manages the location of the images in its database. Managed images are physically located in the Aperture Library file in the Pictures folder. You can also import images into Aperture without storing the digital master files in the Library. Images that are not stored in the Library file are called referenced images. Aperture links to referenced images in their current locations on your hard disk, without placing them in the Aperture Library file.

Â Vaults: A vault holds your backed-up images and is a copy of your Library.

For details about each of these elements and how you work with them in Aperture, see the next few sections.

What Are Digital Master Files?

A digital master file is the original RAW, JPEG, TIFF, or PNG file that was imported into Aperture from your camera, a memory card, a computer, or external storage media such as an external hard disk drive or CD. Aperture never changes the master file, so you always have originals to work from.

Important: Digital master files—especially RAW files—tend to be quite large. Projects

consisting of several thousand digital master files require high-capacity hard disks.

For information about importing your digital master files, see Chapter 5, “Importing

Images,” on page 55.

Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture 13

What Are Versions?

Once you have digital master files on your hard disk, you can review and make adjustments to your images. For example, you can change the exposure, contrast, or saturation, or add information to an image, such as the photographer’s name, event, and location. To work with images, Aperture creates a “version” of each master file that includes your adjustments and embedded information, and leaves the master file unchanged. A version refers to the master file on your hard disk, but it is not the master file itself. Versions store only the thumbnail image, adjustments, and embedded information. A full image file is not created until you are ready to print or export, saving valuable storage space on your hard disk.

Versions

from Master 1

Versions from Master 2

Versions from Master 3

Computer

Pictures

folder

Aperture

Library file

Master

When you create a version, several things occur:

Â Aperture reads the original master file on disk and displays it on the screen.

Â As you make adjustments or add information to the image, Aperture uses floating-

point calculations to display the image with those changes, but the original master file is never changed.

You can create as many versions of an image as you need. For example, a client may request color, sepia, and black-and-white versions of the same wedding shot. Instead of saving multiple copies of that image, as you would with other applications, you simply create different versions of the master file.

14 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture

What Are Projects?

You organize your digital master files and versions using projects. A project is a container file consisting of up to 10,000 master files and as many versions as you like. You can create as many projects as you wish up to the limitations of your disk space. For example, you can create a new project for each of your shoots. Or if you do several shoots of the same subject, you may want to create a project that encompasses all of the shoots. Projects are essential elements because they maintain your digital master files and track all changes to versions.

You can easily transfer projects from one Aperture system to another. All links between versions and their master files are maintained when projects are transferred. This is particularly useful if you use a portable computer when on location or away from your studio, and a workstation at your studio. For more information, see “Transferring

Projects from Another Aperture System” on page 67.

Examples of items in the Projects panel

Projects

What Are Albums?

An album is a type of container in the Aperture Library that holds only versions (not the digital master files to which they refer). Albums help you organize images in the Library, making your versions easier to manage. You can create albums at the Library level or within a project.

Albums created at the Library level are used to organize versions from multiple projects. For example, you can create an album at the Library level to consolidate your favorite images, known as selects, from multiple clients (each represented by a project). You can then publish this collection of selects on your website or export the album’s contents and burn them to a DVD for review by a prospective client.

Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture 15

Three albums created

within one project

You can also create albums within projects to help you organize your images into relevant groups. For example, images in your Antarctica project can be divided into three albums: Antarctica Selects, On Land, and Underwater.

Note: You can also place versions from other projects in an album that resides within a project.

There are two main types of albums, each suited to a particular function:

Â Album: A type of folder containing image versions. You can view only the versions

that you’ve placed in the album.

Â Smart Albums: This type of album contains image versions as well, but the contents

are controlled by search criteria that you specify. When you change the criteria associated with a particular Smart Album, the contents of the Smart Album automatically change. For more information about Smart Albums, see Chapter 13, “Grouping Images with Smart Albums,” on page 151.

Changes made to versions in albums have no effect on the original digital master files on your computer’s hard disk. If you delete a version from one album, the digital master file is not deleted from the hard disk.

16 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture

These folders organize

images based on what

year they were shot.

What Are Folders?

In Aperture, folders are used to help organize projects and albums. For example, you can import images into projects and then organize the projects into folders based on the year, such as 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. And if you shoot multiple projects for the same client, you can create a folder that contains separate projects for that client.

Note: Folders only contain albums, projects, and other folders.

What Is the Library?

The Aperture Library tracks every project, album, master file, and version no matter whether the images are stored in the Aperture Library file or in other hard disk locations. Aperture automatically creates a Library file in your Pictures folder the first time you open Aperture. You can choose to import images into your Library or have Aperture access them from other locations on different hard disks. The Library tracks all your images and the information recorded about them, as well as information about where backup files are stored. You can access images in the Library by clicking Library at the top of the Projects panel.

Projects that you transfer from other Aperture systems to your Aperture system are also added to the Library. And when you back up your digital master files to your vaults on external FireWire drives, those actions are tracked by the Aperture Library as well.

You can change the location of the Library file to a different folder or a different disk. You can create multiple Library files. For more information about working with multiple Library files, see the Aperture User Manual in the Aperture Help menu.

Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture 17

What Are Managed Images and Referenced Images?

Aperture lets you choose how you organize your photos on disk. You can store your photos in the Aperture Library, or you can import images by simply linking to the image files in their current locations, without placing them in the Library.

Images whose digital master files are stored in the Aperture Library are called managed images. These master files are stored in the Library exactly as they were in previous versions of Aperture. Aperture manages master image files in the Library, keeping them always accessible, and provides benefits such as one-click backup of digital master files to vaults.

Imported images whose digital master files haven’t been placed in the Library are called referenced images. Using referenced images in your Aperture system can provide a number of substantial benefits to your photography workflow. You can incorporate your existing portfolio of images into Aperture without changing the current location of the files. Importing images by reference does not result in a duplication of your image files in the Aperture Library, thus saving hard disk space. You can also connect and disconnect hard disks holding your referenced images’ master files as you need them. This allows you to keep master files for less-used images offline or to make specific types of images available for editing or adjustments as needed. Using referenced images in your Aperture system provides a means of building a flexible image management system customized to your work style.

You specify that an image will be a managed image or a referenced image when you import it. When importing images, you can:

Â Specify that master files be stored in the Aperture Library.

Â Import images as referenced images, so that their master files remain in their

current locations.

Â Move or copy image files to a new location. For example, you might decide that a

certain group of referenced image files, such as wedding photos, will always be placed in one hard disk location, while other groups, such as sports photos, will reside in a different hard disk location.

You can work with referenced images—creating versions, making adjustments, cropping, and adding metadata—just as you can with images whose master files are stored in the Library. Versions that you create from a referenced image are stored in the Library. In order for you to make adjustments to a version from a referenced image, the referenced image’s master file must be available on your hard disk or other storage device. For example, if you delete a referenced image’s master file in the Finder, Aperture no longer has access to the master file and so no longer allows you to change your versions or create new ones.

18 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture

To help you identify referenced images, Aperture marks referenced images with a badge overlay that you can display or hide. When a referenced image’s master file is missing or offline, its badge changes to show that the image is not accessible. For example, if you disconnect a hard disk that holds master files for many referenced images, Aperture automatically marks the referenced images in the Browser and Viewer as offline. If you reconnect the hard disk or other storage device later, Aperture accesses the master files automatically and you can work with and change their versions again.

You can also relocate master files, moving them out of the Library or moving referenced master files to different hard disk locations. If needed, you can also move referenced master files into the Aperture Library by choosing the Consolidate command.

You can search for images based on whether they are managed images, referenced images, or online or offline images. Aperture also provides robust file-management tools that let you quickly determine which images are offline and easily reconnect images that have been moved to different volumes.

What Is a Vault?

A vault is a container consisting of an exact copy of your Library. This includes your projects, managed digital master files, and any versions you’ve created. You can easily create and update a vault to back up your Library. It’s best to store your vaults on multiple external hard drives connected to your computer, usually via FireWire. A Vault Status button changes color when your vaults need updating.

You can have as many vaults as you deem necessary. Creating more than one vault is useful if you work at different locations; you can always keep one vault on a FireWire drive onsite and another one offsite. All vaults and backup files are tracked by the Library so that even if you disconnect the external hard drive that contains your vault, Aperture will synchronize it the next time you reconnect the drive and update your vault.

All the managed master file images, versions, and all metadata, previews, and adjustment information associated with your images are backed up. The versions, previews, and metadata associated with referenced images’ master files are also backed up in the vault. Referenced images’ master files are not backed up in the vault with the Library.

Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture 19

2 Setting Up an Aperture System

You can use Aperture with just your computer and display, or you can set up a system with two displays for extra screen space to view and adjust images.

This chapter provides instructions for connecting a digital camera or card reader to your computer and setting up a dual-display system.

Setting Up a Basic System

The following are basic instructions for connecting a digital camera or card reader to your computer.

Computer

Camera

Card reader

A basic Aperture system consists of the following equipment:

Â A computer and display

Â A digital camera or card reader (a FireWire card reader is strongly recommended

because it’s faster)

Â A cable to connect your camera or card reader to your computer (typically a USB 2.0

cable or a 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable that came with your camera or card reader)

For information about setting up a computer and display, see the documentation that came with the computer and display.

To connect a camera or card reader to your computer:

m Connect your camera or card reader to your computer using the USB or FireWire cable

that came with your camera or card reader.

USB 2.0

FireWire 400 (6-pin) FireWire 400 (4-pin)

To ensure proper setup, see the documentation that came with your camera or card reader.

22 Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System

Setting Up Your System with Two Displays

Using two displays gives you additional screen space to view and adjust images, play slideshows, and present your full-color, full-size images.

Connecting a Second Display to Your Computer

You can connect two displays to the graphics card on your computer and use both displays at the same time.

For connecting a second display, you’ll need the following:

Â Power adapter for the display

Â Display cable to connect the display to the graphics card on your computer

Power adapter Apple Cinema Display cable connectors

DC power

DVI

FireWire

USB

Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System 23

Note: You may also need to purchase an adapter to connect the display cable to the graphics card on your computer.

ADC to DVI adapter

Macintosh computers come with two possible display ports: Apple Display Connector (ADC) ports to connect ADC displays, and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports to connect digital displays that have DVI connectors (such as a flat-panel Apple Cinema Display).

ADC display port DVI display port

Â If your second display is an ADC display, connect it to an available ADC display port

on your computer, or use a DVI to ADC adapter to connect the display to a DVI display port.

Â If your second display is a DVI display, connect the display to an available DVI display

port on your computer, or use an ADC to DVI adapter to connect the display to an ADC display port.

See the documentation that came with your computer or graphics card for more information on the type of display cable or adapter you need.

To connect a second display to your computer:

1 Turn off the computer.

2 Connect a display cable (and adapter, if necessary) from an available display port on

your computer or graphics card to the display.

Depending on your displays, you may have one or more cables to connect. Refer to the documentation that came with the display and your computer for detailed information.

Important: Make sure the cables are connected firmly, or you may not be able to see

an image on the display.

24 Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System

The following illustration shows one possible scenario for connecting two displays to a computer.

Power Mac G5

Apple Cinema Display

Second Apple Cinema Display

ADC to DVI adapter

ADC display port

DVI display port

USB ports

FireWire 400 port

Power

adapter

Power

adapter

Power outlet

AC plug

DC plug

Power outlet

AC plug

DC plug

FireWire connector (not used)

3 Turn on the displays (if necessary) and start up your computer.

You’ll now want to adjust your displays for proper viewing.

Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System 25

Configuring Mac OS X for Multiple Displays

If your computer is connected to two displays, you can set them up to show a continuous desktop that extends across both screens. This is known as extended desktop mode.

Because Aperture controls the second display, you must keep your computer in this mode for the application to operate properly. If you work in mirroring mode, where the same contents appear on both displays, Aperture may not work properly.

To exit mirroring mode:

1 Choose Apple (K) menu > System Preferences.

2 Click Displays, then click Arrangement.

Note: If the Arrangement button does not appear, click the Detect Displays button. If the Arrangement button still does not appear, make sure the second display is properly connected to your computer. For more information, see “Setting Up Your System with

Two Displays” on page 23.

3 Deselect the Mirror Displays checkbox.

After you connect a second display, your displays may show the arrangement of the desktop out of order. For example, the display that shows the hard disk icon and menu bar is typically on the left, so that your desktop extends out to the right on the rightmost display.

To rearrange the position of the displays:

1 Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.

2 Click Displays, then click Arrangement.

Two Displays” on page 23.

26 Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System

3 Drag one of the blue rectangles, representing one of the displays, to match the

position of the display on your desk.

The red outline indicates the screen of the display you are moving.

The display screens temporarily refresh to accommodate the new arrangement.

4 Drag the white rectangle to move the menu bar to the display on the left.

Drag the menu bar to the display on the left.

The display screens temporarily refresh to accommodate the new arrangement. The contents of the screen may be rearranged to accommodate the new position of the menu bar.

Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System 27

Using Additional Hard Disk Storage and FireWire Drives

The disk that contains your computer’s operating system is called the startup disk. In addition to the operating system, the startup disk also stores your applications (such as Aperture), application preferences, system settings, documents, and image files. The more hard disk space you have, the more images Aperture can store. Because you’ll be shooting and storing many images, you should have at least one high-capacity hard disk.

Aperture can also uses external FireWire drives to store and back up image files. These external drives can be “daisy-chained,” meaning that you can connect one drive to another and another. The first drive in the chain is connected to your computer. FireWire drives are “hot-swappable,” meaning that you can connect and disconnect them from your computer without having to shut it down first. FireWire drives are also a great way to add storage space if you are using Aperture on a portable computer.

28 Chapter 2 Setting Up an Aperture System

3 Learning About

the Aperture Interface

Aperture provides an outstanding interface designed to allow professional photographers to efficiently import, manage, edit, and distribute images.

This chapter provides basic information about the Aperture main window and tells you how to customize your workspace layout to work more efficiently.

Basics of Working in Aperture

You may want to open Aperture so you can view the main window and familiarize yourself with its elements as you read.

Opening Aperture for the First Time

The first time you open Aperture, you have several choices as to what to do, depending on your workflow.

To choose an option when you first open Aperture:

1 Click the button next to the option you want.

2 Click Continue.

The Aperture Main Window

This is the main window that you’ll routinely use in Aperture.

Viewer

Toolbar

Projects panel

Browser

Example of a tooltip.

You can press Control-G

to switch the Browser

to grid view.

Adjustments Inspector

Metadata Inspector

Control bar

Note: The inspectors are not shown when you first open Aperture. To show or hide the Inspectors panel, press I. You can also double-click an image to open the Inspectors panel.

To help you learn Aperture, you can hold the pointer over a control in Aperture and a small box called a tooltip appears with a description of the control. Next to the description is the keyboard shortcut for using the control. You can turn the display of tooltips on or off in the Preferences window.

30 Chapter 3 Learning About the Aperture Interface

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